Instruction Is Fine But The Fun Comes In Games

DELAND — The Gold Shirts game against the Greenies in Edmunds Center Tuesday wasn't exactly a rematch of the Celtics and Lakers, but don't tell that to the Larry Bird and Magic Johnson hopefuls.

Over 120 potential shooting stars are drippling and dreaming their way through the first week of the Glenn Wilkes Basketball School at Stetson University.

The action in Edmunds Center looks like basketball's version of a three- ring circus, offering a two-court, six-basket shootout.

Players are divided in teams and leagues based on their age and skill level.

Different colored shirts are given out to identify them with their group and the fun begins. Mornings are devoted to drills and fundamentals -- dribbling, passing, shooting and defense. There are lectures from the instructors and films at night on specialized techniques, such as the fastbreak.

''We want to increase their knowledge of the game along with their skill levels,'' Wilkes said.

But most of all, there are games. There are two full-length games per day. ''There's nothing like experience,'' Wilkes said. ''The more a kid plays, the better he becomes.''

Wilkes' instructors also promote this concept. ''The main purpose is having competition on the same level. The only way they're going to learn is to play a lot,'' said instructor Mike Reddick, a former Stetson star who now plays professionally in Europe.

Game time is the best time for most of the campers. Drew Williams and Andy Nowviskie, both 13, from Ormond Beach, said they had learned a lot about ball handling through the drills, films and lectures, but playing is their favorite part.

''I like the games,'' Drew said. ''Yeah, the games,'' his friend Andy added.

The games aren't the backyard pickup type, though. Instructors correct mistakes and make suggestions along the way. And most important, the players learn to play together.

''For the young players, it's real important that they get a real good concept of team play, of five-on-five,'' Wilkes said. ''So many of the kids play playground ball, and it's important that they learn passing to the open man and helping a teammate get the ball.''

The basketball school, in its 29th year, offers six sessions of camp during the summer. There are two open sessions, this week and July 19-24, for boys ages 9 to 18

Next week the camp is offered to girls only, then junior giants get their turn. June 27-July 1 is designated the Big Man Camp but not for men only. Boys and girls, who play the post position, are offered a week centered around the game from their point of view.

July 6-11 is Super Star week, limited to players 14 and older. The camp offers exposure as well as competition. College coaches throughout the South and East are invited to watch the All-Star game on July 11.

Wilkes discovered one future player himself several years ago. Frank Ireland, a freshman for the Hatters, attend camp as a 13-year-old, and Wilkes was so impressed he sent him a letter then. Ireland went all through high school planning to become a Hatter.

High school teams and their coaches are invited to attend as a group July 12-17.